CJ Nicaumenee

Inner suburbs​

Whilst the first Europeans settled on Beacon Hill on Goose Island, most of the communities by the local Ojibwe back then were established within the limits of nowadays suburbs. The area was popular, as it had been close to the then rich fishing grounds, but it was not as swampy as the area alongside the lake coast was back in the late 18th century. Due to the brutal massacres executed by the colonists, it's still possible today that bodies and artifacts are found at constructions sites. After those massacres, human settlement was focused almost exclusively on the coastline for over a century, until city officials annexed the area farther apart, and commissioned a grid plan to reduce the pressure in population on the Downtown and Bridgend districts.

The plan initially opted only for two new districts - Sherman Park and Barren Hill. Sherman Park was planned in a diagonal pattern (similar to the Downtown grid), and Barren Hill in a common north-south pattern. The plan also opted for a railroad beltway with the marshalling yard located northern of the new districts. Already in the early stages, some changes were adapted to include the new mobility factor - the car - into the plan. Thus, freeways were added, some of which separated Barren Hill in three parts, leading to the creation of two more new districts - St. Mary's and Timmerman. Those early freeways were the predecessors of the modern interstate highways that nowadays cut through the city. Most of the land area was developed until the early 1960s, and the new living space attracted white people who wanted to escape the crowded inner city, and who could afford to live there. The suburbian houses thus symbolized the promise of a better future - together with the car as the modern way of travelling.

In the late 20th century, those dreams were slowly torn by reality. The interstates were crowded, and the smog and the noise started affecting the city as a whole. City officials had to re-think mobility, leading to a reincarnation of the public transportation. Plans for a new exhibition center in Timmerman were remodeled such that the expo center could be reached by a newly designed rapid bus line running through the city. Its quick success changed the public perception, yielding to the cry for more such lines.

Today, those four inner suburbs play a vital role within the city's and the county's daily life, as you will see.

Overview
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Timmerman with its expo center is in the left foreground. On the upper left side, you can see Barren Hill with is port, in the center, jammed in between three interstates, you can see St. Mary's, and on the right lower side, you can spot Sherman Park. In the background, you can see the downtown islands, as well as Bridgend.

Sherman Park
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The namesake of the district - the Sherman Park - nowadays only is a shadow of its former self. It initially covered two blocks, but given the need for cheap living space, its size was halved in the 1950s. The district is plagued by traffic congestion and the lack of parks, but it's still one of the most popular districts. This is mostly due to its accessibility, either by car, by bus, or by train. The district hosts the seat of Nicaumenee County, as well as some offices of the City of Nicaumenee. It's also famous for its Stadium, the homestead of the Nicaumenee Geese, a local MLB club.

View into southeastern direction from Appleton Avenue. On the left, you can see the Administrative Seat of Nicaumenee County. In the background, you can spot the Russ Building, hosting many city offices.




The Sherman Park. The block on the right side initially was also part of the park. In the foreground, you can spot a youth center that was added in the 1950s.


The modern buildings at the Sherman Park Tunnel were built in the late 20th century. The park above the tunnel was gifted by Mitsubishi, after the company had opened a facility close by.



The part of Sherman Park behind the interstate. On the right side, you can spot the baseball stadium, which hosts the Nicaumenee Geese.


Right next to the stadium, a train station was added as part of the city's strive for a renewal of public transportation.




A modern recycling depot in Sherman Park.

St. Mary's
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St. Mary's is the smallest of all of the four inner suburbs. It's jammed by three interstate highways and the southern part of the railroad beltway. Furthermore, Green Bay Avenue runs right through it. Its popularity stems from the Great Lakes Mall and the Nicaumenee Spa, which are located close to the district's northern limits.




The district is named for the church of St. Mary's, located right in the center of the district.

Barren Hill
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The shorelines of Barren Hill were initially a popular spot for the Black residents of the town. But when the city officials decided to use the shorelines to build a modern port there, the residents were simply chased off their property. It took almost 70 years for officials to acknowledge the wrongdoing. The district itself is one of the most popular districts within the whole city, due to a number of reasons: Although it's located just northern of downtown, and albeit the modern port of Nicaumenee is placed along its shorelines, it has preserved its suburbian character. Furthermore, the Barren Hill Park and several smaller parks as well offer nice spots for recreation. The district also contains several well-known schools, as well as a modern hospital. And last but not least: The district is well connected to all other districts, due to the Bus Rapid Transit Hub at its southern border.

In the foreground, you can spot a senior residence. In the background, you can see the district's hospital, as well as its graveyard.


Barren Hill on the left side of the interstate. You can spot one of the many parks within the district. In the background, you can see the southern parts of the city harbour.


In the foreground, you can see one of the city's incinerators. A bit farther, you can spot the city's grain port, making the city part of only a few Great Lakes' grain exporting harbours.



The eponym of the district - Barren Hill with the radio mast. On the right side, you can spot one of the many BRT lanes running through the district. Almost all of them lead to the Barren Hill BRT Hub:

Timmerman
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Timmerman is considered another powerhouse of the city's economy. It contains the city's main exhibition center - the Nicaumenee Expo Center - as well as numerous small and medium-sized manufacturing facilities, most being located close to the marshalling yard. Especially the construction of the expo center and the hotels nearby drastically changed the district's image.






You can see rather suburbian homes of Timmerman in the foreground.